Swatch & Review: MAC Shale (Satin)

Shale is another gem that came into my life through swap. In most of the swatch pictures I found online it didn’t look amazing, but I’m happy I took a chance on it!

Shale has a satin finish, and MAC describes it as a muted mauve-plum with subtle shimmer. The pigmentation of this shade is amazing (so amazing that I have to use a light hand), and it’s super easy to blend. On my lids it’s a mauvy grayish taupe with pink/purple shimmer. It’s an extremely interesting color that can be paired up with a lot of other colors. Because of the sheer complexity of the color I sometimes just a use light wash of it over my lids, but the result still turns out pretty sophisticated. It’s daytime appropriate, but I personally find it extremely sexy on its own with some black liner.

Just because I thought the middle shade of NYX Rock and Roll is of a roughly similar nature, I pulled it out and swatched the two side by side:

Of course I realized the two colors aren’t comparable, but I think they could work together! The MAC website also says that Shale is very often purchased with Vex, which doesn’t surprise me but I had never previously thought about the possibility! Since I do own a similar shade (the browbone shade on the right column of Wet n’ Wild Comfort Zone), I might soon give it a try (apparently you can amp up the look by working Club into your crease too)!

Is anyone going to give Shale a try? Does anyone know other ways of working with it? Do tell!